Yelena
Yelena had always looked forward to her birthdays. When she was younger, her mother would prepare a whole mountain full of gifts next to her bed in the morning. The gifts would mostly be simple things like little cute trinkets or handmade mittens, nothing really too lavish but she loved opening the gifts all the same.
Today, there would be no mountain of gifts awaiting her but yet Yelena had a whole different reason to be excited about her birthday. She was turning 20 after all. Finally old enough to carry out the first step in her master revenge plot. In Hesteria, the legal marrying age was 18 however in Valken, young men and women debuted into society for marriage at 20. She had waited two long years for this day but she had not been sitting idle during that time. She spent most of her days studying whatever information she could get her hands on about the Valkens and their empire. And on other days she would practice her hunting skills with her father.
Yelena had already prepared her speech for when her father would ask her what she wanted for her birthday and was reciting it in her head when she heard Soren shouting from the other end of the corridor.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY YEN!! OUR LITTLE PRINCESS IS FINALLY A FULL FLEDGED MARRIAGEABLE ADULT IN EVERY PART OF THE LAND WOOHOO!"
"Saints Soren, hushhh could you get any louder? I bet even the people in Valken heard you. But thanks hehe." Yelena chided and then giggled like a 10 year old.
"I got you something. Close your eyes."
Yelena obliged and shut her eyes, "Better not be another slimy frog Soren or I swear-" Yelena's sentence cut off as her breath hitched from the sudden brush of Soren's fingers around her neck at the same time that a heavy metal object thudded between her breasts.
Opening her eyes, she saw her mother's sapphire gold ring intricately attached to a delicate woven golden chain now dangling around her neck.
"What do you think? Made it myself and all!" Soren said, a proud grin on his face.
"I-" lost for words, Yelena only managed a soft "Thank you" as she bit back the sob that was threatening to well up in her throat.
"Awh nah not this! I was expecting joy and happiness and maybe some praise for my excellent handiwork but definitely not waterworks. Don't cry Yelena, you know we'll get even with them soon."
Half sniffling and half smiling, Yelena protested, "I'm not crying, who's crying? Adults like me don't cry."
"Haha it's statements like that that prove exactly how immature you are." Soren replied before turning serious, "You're really going to go to Valken huh?"
Yelena bit back her retort on the immature comment, Soren was only 3 years older than her, who was he to lecture her on maturity hmph. Instead she answered the question, "We've been over this, I'm going, there's no stopping me."
"Then I'm coming with you. I'm sure your father will approve."
"I'm not even sure he would approve of ME going let alone you!"
"Well then good thing you're planning to go with or without approval anyway and I get to just hitch hike on your bad decisions."
Rolling her eyes and ignoring him, Yelena marched down the hallway to the banquet hall where her father and his subjects were already waiting for her.
The birthday banquet held in her honour was grand for Hesteria standards. People from Hesteria far and wide were all invited to partake in the festivities. There was music and dancing and many people dressed up in their finest linens. Rows upon rows of steaming hot meals lined the tables, most of them hand made courtesy of the guests. Yelena had long requested the guests not to give her any gifts for her birthday for she knew not what to do with so many random objects and so declared on her 12th birthday that she would only receive gifts in the form of food made for the banquet table. The benefits of living in a kingdom blessed with bountiful harvests is that almost everyone was a good cook.
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Stomach letting out a violent growl, Yelena greeted her father, "Father, thank you for hosting this banquet in my honour."
"Anything for my darling daughter's birthday. Tell me, what is your wish this year?"
This was it, the moment she had been waiting for. Every year on her birthday, her father would grant one wish of hers as a birthday present. She had usually never asked for too much. Sometimes just something simple like asking to spend a night out in the town Square together, a new saddle for her horse Maddie, or maybe a limited edition book she really wanted, things like that.
But this time, there was no holding back, " I wish to attend the upcoming ball in Valken."
The King's eyebrow raised in surprise. "The ball? You mean the ones held annually to find a suitable bride candidate for the Valken princes? Why ever would you want to go to that? You hate stuffy events."
Here goes nothing Yelena thought before replying, "I wish to marry one of the Valken Princes. Please father grant me this wish." She gives her father a meaningful look.
"....we will discuss this later tonight. For now, let the music and feasting begin! Music!" King Oscar clapped his hands twice signalling the musicians and dismissed the subject for later.
Knowing that she would get her wish one way or another Yelena was slightly disappointed by not discouraged.
She seated herself at the nearest table and started piling her plate full of her favourite food. Grilled chicken leg, creamy mashed potatoes, stuffed eggplants, sautéed mushrooms, beef stew and.... Was that yuca?? Wow, the people really went all out this time. Sharing pleasantries with the guests and receiving their well wishes at the table, Yelena enjoyed what would probably be her last banquet in Hesteria.
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Later that night, the King summoned Yelena to his private study to discuss the matter of the ball.
"Yen, what is this nonsense about the ball? Are you really planning to marry into the Valkens? To what end?" the King asked warily.
"I wish to avenge mother's death, father. I will find out who was responsible for the order of attack on mother's hometown and I will get justice. Marrying into the royal family would prove a valuable stepping stone in infiltrating the Valkens and if nothing else, would also strengthen the ties between our kingdoms."
She paused and hesitated before continuing, "Father I know you miss mother everyday still. I see it in your eyes, the same pain i see in mine in the mirror everyday. But I also know as king, you have to put the kingdom first and cannot act selfishly to wage war on the Valkens. However I am not weighed down by such burdens, please please let me do this for mother." Yelena finished the speech she had memorized for days now and waited.
The King let out a heavy sigh. Wholly unhappy with the path of vengeance his daughter seemed to be determined to walk. It was true Rosalind's death had affected the kingdom, him and Yelena most of all. But Rosalind would not have wanted Yelena to go down this twisted, spiralling path of revenge. However, King Oscar knew his daughter well. By hook or by crook, with or without his permission, she would find her way to that blasted ball. She had always been headstrong and stubborn like that, guess she got that from him.
He took a good look at his precious daughter. Her luscious scarlet locks that looked just like her mother's, were pulled neatly into a messy little bun at the top of her head. The emerald velvety dress she was wearing clung to the curves of her now matured body. She was tall now, almost reaching his chin in height, and King Oscar was no midget of a man. Saints, wasnt it just yesterday that she was running circles around him below his waist? When did his little girl grow into this fine young woman? If only you could see her now Rosalind, she looks just like you, proud, strong and beautiful.
Decision finally made, the king declared, "I will grant you this wish Yen, however it comes with conditions you have to promise me to fulfil."
Almost not believing her ears and how easy it was to convince her father, Yen answered enthusiastically, "Yes father, what are the conditions? I'll do anything at all!"
Holding up a first finger to count off the terms, the King replied, "First, you will not endanger your life or the safety of Hesteria in your conquest."
"Second, Soren will go with you as your personal guard and attendant."
"Third, you have one year to complete your quest, failing which you must come back to Hesteria immediately or I will come and get you and it will not end well for any of us."
"And lastly, if you do succeed in your quest, whichever prince you choose to marry, if you do not love him by the end, you must break off the marriage and return to Hesteria. Can you promise me all this?"
Gulping, Yelena considered the terms for a brief moment, decided they were not unreasonable and finally nodded, "I promise father. I will do you and mother proud."
"I know you will my daughter. Happy birthday again Yen."
King Oscar could only pray to the Saints now for his daughter's safety and happiness. He had not wanted her to have a political marriage but instead marry for love just like Rosalind and him did. But Yelena was an adult now, she was free to make her own decisions. He only hoped that she would not come to regret this one. Sighing again, King Oscar whispered into the now empty room, " Rosalind, please, watch over our baby girl."
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